Shoe-buckle



(No Model.)

H. A. CLossE, Gl. A. BILLINGS, G. THOMSON 8v J. F. KNUTI-I.

SHOE BUCKLE.

v'l\T0.L154,853. Patented June 30,1891.

foi www/wiri To all whom, t may concern:

UNITED STATES f PATENT OEEICE.

HORACE A. OLOSSER, GEORGE A. BILLINGS, GEORGE THOMSON, AND JULIUS F.KNUTI-l, OF FAIRCHILD, VISCON SIN.

SHOE-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,853, dated J' une30, 1891.

Application filed March 19, 1891. Serial No. 385,639. (No model.)

Be it known that we,HoEAcE A. OLossEE, GEORGE A. BrLLrNGs, GEORGETHOMSON, and JULIUS F. KNUTH, citizens of the United States, residing atFairchild, in the county of Eau Claire and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Buckles; and we dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bucklesfor buckling shoes and analogous articles, and it has for its objectsamong others to providea simple and cheap buckle of this character whichwill not unlock until the strain is relaxed, thus avoidingthe'objections so often raised to the old forms of buckles, whichunfasten so easily when anything comes in contact therewith. W'e formthe buckle of two parts, one secured to the shoe at each side of theopening therein, the one part being a tongue with a hinged part carryingthe locking-latch designed to engage any one of a plurality of holes inthe other part. The buckle is self-locking-that is, when the two partsare placed together the latch automatically engages the hole in theother part. Strain placed thereon only the more firmly locks it inplace. Yet when the strain is relaxed, the buckle can be easilyunlocked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specically defined by theappended claims.

The novelty in the present instance resides in the peculiarities ofconstruction and the combinations, arrangement, and adaptation of parts,all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and thenparticularly pointed out in the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of thisspeciication, and in which;

Figure l is a front view showing our improved buckle applied to a shoeand locked. Fig. 2 is a reverse view of the parts of the buckledetached. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through the buckle locked.Fig. 4 is a reverse perspective view of one portion of the buckle.

Like letters of reference indicatelikc parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details Vof the drawings by letter, A designatesthe tongue portion of the buckle, which is provided upon its under sideat one end with a cross-bar or loop a, to which a tape or other means isdesigned to be affixed to secure it to the shoe. It may be otherwiseattached, if desired. The tongue b is provided with a plurality of holesc and extends beyond the main portion and formed with shoulders d, asshown best in Fig. 2, which serve to limit the inward movement of thetongue. The tongue is convex in cross-section.

B is the latch portion. It is formed or provided at one end upon theunder side with a cross bar or loop e, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.,and to which is designed to be secured a loop or strap, by which it issecured to the shoe. |This portion B has a tongue portion f, convex incross-section and over which the tongue Z2 is designed to move. Thistongue portion f is narrower than the main body, and at the junction ofthe two are the shoulders g, at which points the metal is turned underand over to form the eyes h, in which the hinged portion is hinged. Thishinged portion C is bifurcated, the forward portions of the bifurcationsbeing connected by a crossbar t', as seen best in Fig. l, the other endsbeing formed with lugs j, which engage the eyes h and turn therein as ona hinge. The forward end of the tongue portion is formed with a hole 7.:for the reception of the latch D, which is formed on or attached to the.cross-bar 7l and is bent downward atan angle,

as seen in Fig. 3. The said cross-bar is also preferably formed with alinger-piece Z, by which it may be manipulated when desired. Thecross-bar is convex, as seen at m in Fig.

4, to provide for the passage of the tongue, as seen in Fig. l.

In practice the two parts are attached to f the shoe in the mannerindicated, and when it is desired to fasten the shoe the tongue b isinserted over the tongue portion Jfof the portion B,as shown in Fig. l,and as the parts are forced together the shoulders d of the tongue ridebeneath the arms of the bifurcated portion C and slightly lift them, sothat the parts can be easily moved one upon the other. When pressure isremoved, the latch falls into the nearest hole in the tongue and holdsthe parts in this position. The con- Vexity of the tongue portionspermits the parts to be more readily guided, serving as guides therefor.eccentric action of the latch, which serves to aid in the locking asWell as the unlocking of the parts. The buckle cannot be unlocked Whilestrain is applied on the' tWo parts. To

unlock, all that it is necessary to do is to lift up on the finger-pieceZ,Which will disengage thelatch and tongue, when the two parts may beseparated.

The exterior of the buckle may be made as ornamental in design asdesired.

There is a sort of a cam or \V hat We claiin as new is- The buckledescribed composed of the portion A, with cross-bar upon its under sidenear one end, perforated tongue and shoulders, and the portion B, havingloop near one end upon its under side, a tongue portion with hole,cross-bar, and eyes, and the bifurcated portion having lugs engagingsaid eyes, and a cross-bar With a latch and linger-piece on thecross-bar of the bifurcated portion, substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim theabove We have hereunto subscribed ournames in the presence ot' two witnesses.

HORACE A. OLOSSER. GEO. A. BILLINGS.y GEORGE. THOMSON. .TULUS F. KNUTH.Witnesses:

H. E. MORRILL, WM. F. Hoon.

